Coin controlled device



Feb. 14, 1933. L. M. HALL ET AL COIN CONTROLLED DEVICE Filed Jan.' 27, 1932 Hf ad mw .WWA H Patented Feb. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE` LOUIS M. HALL, 0F FORT THOMAS, KENTUCKY, AND HARRY MCCREAIR-Y, OF YOUNGS- TOVJN, OHIO, ASSIGNOIES TO THE MONARCH TOOL & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO COIN CONTROLLED DEVICE Application filed January 27, 1932. Serial No. 589,072.

This invention relates to a coin-controlled device of `the kind commonly known as a coin slot and adapted upon proper operation, to actuate other mechanism with which the coin slot is associated.

An object of the invention is to provide adevice of the kind described provided with means to preclude fraudulent operation of the device.

Another object is to provide such means which in no way affect or endanger smooth operation of the properly actuated mechanism.

Another object is to provide means positively operative upon the coin used to actuate the coin slot device for facilitating or expediting release of the coin therefrom.

Another object is the provision of means of the kind described which are simple in manufacture and efficient in use.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a coin-controlled mechanism of this invention, in position to receive a coin.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken online 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a coin slot device comprising modified structure.

Fig. l is a cross sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Figs. 5 and 6 are top plan views of the slide and housing, respectively7 seen in Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 5.

The coin-controlled mechanism of this invention comprises brieflya support plate, adapted to be vertically positioned, a housing extending through a horizontal slot in the support plate, a slide positioned upon the housing, a downwardly-urged, spring actuated trigger adapted to prevent operation of the device Without a proper coin, to eject coins not of a pre-determined diameter, and a magnet adapted to engage magnetic coins to prevent operation of the device. Heretofore, fraudulent operators have found it possible to actuate mechanisms of this kind, by inserting a thin strip of metal through the slot either above or below the slide, thereby holding up the downwardly urged trigger and accomplishing repeated and unauthorized operations of the coin slot and the associated mechanism, generally an amusement device or a vending machine of some kind. The present invention provides means preventing such fraudulent operation, said means consisting, briefly, of complementary studs, ways and ridges provided on the support plate, slide and housing and effectively precluding insertion of strips and the like for fraudulently operating the coin slot.

The present invention likewise provides for another improvement in coin devices, consisting of means effecting positive downward directing of the coin at the time the coin is released from the device, thereby obviating difficulties formerly encountered when gravity operation was depended upon.

With reference to the drawing: The support plate 10 may be rectangular in shape as shown and provided with interiorly threaded studs 16 on its inside face facilitating itsattachment to a suitable vertical surface, generally a wall of the mechanism or device with which the coin slot is associated. The housing 11 extending through the slot 12, projects on both sides of the plate 10 and comprises an elongated strip or plate formed to provide lateral flanges 17 ovcrhanging the top face 18 of the housing. The housing is proided with an aperture 19 adjacent its outer end, an aperture 2O intermediate the ends of the housing and positioned close to the inner face of the support plate 10, and a coin-release aperture 21 provided adjacent the rear or inner end of the housing. A central groove 22 extends longitudinally of the housing. Just forwardly of the coin-release aperture 21, the housing is provided with. a depressed portion 23 upon which a coin drops immediately prior to its release from the device. Adjacent one side of the housing the latter is cut to provide a slot 24 communicating with the apertures 2O and 21 and within which travels the arm actuating the mechanism with which the coin slot is associated.

The slide 13 seen in Figs. 1 and 2 consists of ajstrip receivable withintheflanges 17 and slidable upon the housing. The strip is provided at its outer end with an upturned handle and adjacent its inner end with a coinreceiving aperture 26 adapted, inY the inoper-v ative position ofthe device, toregister substantially with the laperture 19 of the houspositively connected with such mechanism aty its inner endBS., j f f Y `Ii'nmediately adjacent the inner face of the surface ofthe slide.

ing arm 36 issecuredto lthe underface of the ing, A shallowchannel27 `is milled in the .upper'faceiof theslidel and extends 'from the outer edge of, the aperture 26 to the outer end of the slide. Within the channel 27 a plate 28, snugly receivable inthe channel is se' cured. On itsuper face the plate 28 is formed to provide ridge 29 projecting above the top A downwardly projectslide adjacent the inner'end thereof. 1` This arm is adapted to'move back and forth in the slot24 of the housing. A rod 3T- is commonly attached tothe arm 36 andwhen said-arm ha-s been moved inwardly by actuation of the slide, it actuates the mechanism with which the coin-slot is associated,the rod 37V being y support plate 10, as cover member 30 is attached to the upper faces of the flanges 17.

The trigger member 14 isA pivotally mountedl on the cover member 30 by fmeansof a small shaft 31 extending transversely of said cover.

A springstrip`32 is secured adjacent the in-4 lner end of the cover and bears upon theV trigf ger 14, urging said trigger? toward` an apersaid arm projecting into the aperture 21.V Above the stop farm34a magnet 85 is faseoVv l i Y f ture 33 provided in the cover member.

Upon the upper face of the housing-at the rearend thereof,the stop arm 34 is attached,

tened. e Y Y Y i The device so formed and assembled is adapted to be Yoperated in the followingway: The slide 1'3 is moved out to the position shown in Fig. 1. A coin of predetermined dix ameter, commonly a live cent piece, is deposited upon the housing and withinV the lcoinfreceiving aperture -26 ofthe slide. 'The downwardly urged trigger 14, in the inoperative position of the slide, rests against the top surface of the slide. 'The coin ills the aperture 26 sorthat the trigger rides lover the top surface :of 'the coin and continues inthe central groove 39 until the slidehas been moved completely inwardly. 'f At this point the coin moves irstin-to the'y depressed portion `23 fof 'thehousing and then outwardly of the coin- Y lrelease aperture 21;V n orderto facilitate and expedite the release of the coin, and likewise to preclude the possibility of jamming, the `arm 34 is provided with a hook portion 40 against which the innermost edge of the coin abut-s whereby the coin is positively directed nutwaridly of the coin release aperture.

. 1f no coin is :depositedwithin the vaperturev 26 the trigger `33, upon the inward movement of the slide, is projected.` downwardly through the aperture 26 and precludes opera-v l tion of the device is prevented.. Ita coinv ofV toov small a diameter 'is used, the trigger 14,

uponA inward movement of the slide, ejects Y such vcoinv through-the aperture 2010i the housingfand locks the slide against further inward movement..`V Y. f VThe upper edgeof the slot12 in'thesup'- port Aplate' "1() is; formed to; provide downward Ythe'ridgesA 291ofthe slide. It will be seen clearly by reference tofFig.y 2 thatthe space i that mightotherwise result between the top face of the slide andthe upper edge of the -ly` projecting studs 41 so placed asto 'extend at the` sides of'and inthegrooves 42V between groove 12,`is traversed atvfo'ur points by the studs, grooves andridges described so that it would be-- impossiblefor a fraudulent operarj.`

tor to insert astri'p of any kind between the slidefandAthe'slotfV i l j In Figs. 3- to 7 is illustrated a modificationor the groove and studmeans, and likewise means precluding insertion ci a stripbetween the housing and theunder faceof the slide. Central ways 43 arev milled directly in thevupperu-face of the slide`46,fand'corresponding studs 44am/formed on theupper edge yof the slot l2,` Said slot being likewise formed to "snugly embracethe flanges 17, as Vseen. at 45A V`(Fig. 4). also clearly seen in Fig.'4, the

bottom acebi the slide, inj addition tothe Central guide stud 4"?,1adapted'to ridein the 'housing groove 22,'and which is commonfto"` both devices herein described, is likewise pro# vided with; the studs 48. The housing is formed with corresponding grooves -with- Ybetween thehousing andslide, in an attempt to holdup the trigger 14, is thus effectively prevented. A Sothatthere may'beno danger of the coinbringing up against 'the studs 44 and preventing operation of the device, the upper i surface ,of the housing, adj acent the outer edge of aperture 19 is flattened asat 51 Figs.

5A andf), whereby excessive upwardl projec- 'tionoftheicoin'is obviated."v

' Whatis claimed is:

tioned against a wall Vmember or the like and `havinga horizontal 'slot therein, a housing extending :throu'ghf'said slot, 'a I coin-carrying slideV memberslidable in said housing, and

iadaptedfor `full inwardmovement when provided'with a coin of predetermined character, lokclringmeansk adjacent the inner-face of said vsupport `plate and adapted for fdownfin which the Vstuds 48 project when the lidef is moved inwardly. 'The insertionof a strip Y v 5.1.l A'coiny controlled devicecomprising a support 'plate adapted to be verticallyA posiward movement into the path of the slide to preclude operation thereof without acoin of the predetermined character, alternate ways and ridges provided on the exposed portion or" the slide, and corresponding studs and spaces provided along the upper edge ot said slot and adapted for interlitting relationship with said ways and ridges upon inward movement of the slide, tor precluding entry of a strip or the like between the slide and said upper slot edge and inserted for the purpose ot holding up said locking means to effect fraudulent operation of the device.

2. coin controlled device comprising a support plate adapted to be vertically positioned against a wall member or the like and having horizontal slot therein, a housing extending through said slot, a coin-carrying slide member slidable in said housing, and adapted for full inward movement when provided with a coin ot predetermined character, locking means adjacent the inner l'ace of said supportplate and adapted for downward movement into the path ot the slide to preclude operation thereof without a coin of the predetermined character, alternate ways and ridges provided on the exposed portion of the slide. and corresponding studs and spaces provided along the upper edge of said slot and adapted for interlitting relationship with said ways and ridges upon inward movement of the slide, for precluding entry of a strip or the like between the slide and said upper slot edge, grooves provided on the housing and corresponding studs provided on the slide and adapted t0 extend into said housing grooves upon inward movement ot the slide, said latter grooves and studs being` adapted to preclude insertion ot a strip or the like between the housing and the bottom face of the slide.

3. A coin controlled device comprising` a support plate adapted to be verticali.y positioned against a wall member or the like and having a horizontal slot therein, a housing extending through said slot and compriselongated plate formed with lateral flanges overhanging its top tace. a coincarrying slide strip slidable upon the housing within said flanges and adapted for full inward movement when provided with a coin of predetermined character, locking means adjacent the inner face of said support plate and adapted for downward movement into the path of said slide to preclude operation tiereoiC without a coin of the predetermined character, alternate ways and ridges provided on the upper face of the slide and corresponding studs and spaces provided along the upper edge of said slot and adapted tor interlitting relationship with said ways and ridges upon inward movement of the slide, the end portions of said slot being jacent the inner Yface of said support plate and adapted for downward movement into the path of said slide to preclude operation thereof without a coin of the predetermined character, ways provided on the upper face of the slide, corresponding studs projecting downwardly of the upper edge ot said slot and adapted to extend into said ways upon inward movement of the slide, ways provided on the upper surface of the housing and corresponding studs projecting downwardly of the slide and adapted to extend into said' housing ways upon inward movement of the slide the end portions of said slot being formed to snugly embrace the lateral llanges of said housing.

5. A coin controlled device comprising a support plate adapted to be vertically positioned against a wall member or the like and having an aperture therein, a housing eX- tending through said aperture, and having a coin-release opening adjacent its inner end, a coin-carrying member slidable in the housing and adapted for full. inward movement when provided with a non-magnetic coin of predetermined diameter, locking means positioned above the housing` and adapted to preclude full operation of the coin carrying member without a coin of the predetermined diameter, means extending transversely of the housing and coin carrying member to preclude insertion into the interior of the device of a strip or the like, a magnet positioned immediately above said coin release opening, an arm projecting into said openinor immediately beneath the magnet and adapted for endwise abutment with a magnetic coin magnetically held by the magnet Jfor precluding full inward movement of the coin-carrying member, and a downwardly bent portion formed adjacent the abutment end of said arm, said portion being positioned at the terminus of inward movement of a non-magnetic coin for positively directing such coin from the coin-release opening.

6. A coin controlled device comprisingasupport plate adapted to be vertically positioned against a wall member or the like and having an aperture therein, a housing extending through said aperture, and having a coinrelease opening adjacent its inner end, a coincarrying member slidable in the housing and adapted Afor fullinwerd movement when prof vided With a coin of predetermined diameter,

* loekingmeans positioned above the housing `and adapted to preclude-ull operation of the coin carrying member Without a coin of the predetermined diameter, :means associated with the upper `and the lower surfaces and i Y In-testimony yvhereoiliavehereunto sub- `j fthe* sides of the coin carrying member and housing precluding Vaccess to ,said locking means rom'the exterior of the support plate, andmeans associated With said coin release opening for positively directing a vcoin n through the opening; `1 .1.

In testimony WhereoLI have hereunto subscribed my name this 25th day. of January,

Y Louis HALL.

scribed'my neme this 22nd day of January,

HARRY MCCREARY. 

